Religion, race & rights

• Leong Mun Wai asked for the annual breakdown by race and citizenship of HDB flat owners whose flats sold for at least $1 million since 2020.
• Desmond Lee responded that only about 1% of HDB flats were transacted at $1 million and above from 2020 to the first half of 2024.
• He stated that almost all sellers were Singapore citizen households.
• He noted that the proportion of Chinese sellers ranged between 86% and 93% annually.
• He added that sellers from other ethnic groups accounted for between 7% and 14% of such transactions.

• Mr Don Wee asked how the Ministry for Social and Family Development can better support small enterprises in hiring Singaporeans with special needs and how the effectiveness of these measures will be evaluated.
• The Government, through SG Enable, offers various supports including the Open Door Programme with job matching, job coaches, and grants covering up to 90% of job redesign costs, and the Enabling Employment Credit providing wage support up to 20% for hiring persons with disabilities.
• Additional initiatives include the Place-and-Train programme with high wage and course fee subsidies, the Enabling Business Hub at Jurong for logistics sector opportunities, and partnerships with business federations and banks to engage SMEs in inclusive hiring.
• The effectiveness of these measures is tracked through the annual Comprehensive Labour Force Survey, with a goal to increase the employment rate of persons with disabilities from 32.7% in 2022/2023 to 40% by 2030.

• As of December 2023, about one in 420 public officers are Persons with Disabilities, and the main challenge they face is a lack of disability awareness and acceptance among employers, supervisors, and co-workers.
• The Public Sector supports these employees through the Open Door Programme, which provides customised job coaching, workplace accessibility advice, and subsidies for disability-inclusion training for both PwDs and their colleagues.
• The Public Service follows Tripartite Guidelines to ensure fair hiring and performance assessment based on competencies, without discrimination based on disability.
• Agencies also offer flexible work arrangements such as part-time work, hybrid setups, and adjusted hours to support long-term employment for staff with disabilities.
• These measures collectively aim to build an inclusive workplace environment that integrates and retains employees with special needs in the public sector.

• The Ministry of Transport is considering encouraging car rental companies to provide cars with assistive driving equipment for drivers with disabilities.
• The government has invested in accessible public transport and is working with taxi and ride-hail operators to improve transport options for persons with disabilities.
• Persons with disabilities who need private cars can apply through the Disabled Persons Scheme to register customised vehicles without paying certain fees.

• Miss Rachel Ong inquired if the Open Door Programme Job Redesign Grant extends to companies hiring persons with disabilities on a part-time basis and how many have used it over five years.
• The grant supports employers hiring persons with disabilities with at least one-year contracts, regardless of part-time or full-time status.
• Over 110 organizations used the grant from 2019 to 2023, but no breakdown is available for part-time versus full-time hires.

• The Taskforce for Developing New Community Living Models for Persons with Disabilities will release recommendations later this year to identify housing and care models for community living.
• Enabling Services Hubs are being expanded, with two more hubs launching in Jurong West and Punggol next year, following the first hub in Tampines.
• Capacity for Day Activity Centres will increase from 1,800 to 2,300 spaces by 2030, and Sheltered Workshops from 1,700 to 2,200 spaces by 2030.
• The government is working with community partners, social service agencies, caregivers, and persons with disabilities to co-create support options for inclusive living.

• The Government has established multiple laws to combat online hate speech and false content, including the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and the forthcoming Maintenance of Racial Harmony Bill, which enable Restraining Orders to remove inflammatory material and halt related communications.
• Authorities like the Infocomm Media Development Authority and the Ministry of Home Affairs can use the Broadcasting Act, the Online Criminal Harms Act, and the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act to disable or remove content that threatens racial or religious harmony.
• Beyond legal measures, efforts are underway to promote respectful online discourse through community partnerships and digital literacy programs aimed at fostering responsible Internet use and social cohesion.

• The Ministry of Home Affairs adopts a whole-of-society approach involving government agencies, schools, and community partners to counter radicalisation among youths, using legislative tools like the Online Safety Act to block harmful online content and public education to raise awareness.
• Key initiatives include training for school staff on early signs of radicalisation, educational curricula on social cohesion and critical thinking, and peer support structures in schools to foster inclusivity and resilience against extremist ideologies.
• Community partnerships, such as with the Religious Rehabilitation Group and Inter-Agency Aftercare Group, provide outreach, counselling, and rehabilitation programmes for at-risk youths, including digital campaigns and youth forums to promote countering violent extremism.
• Efforts like the SGSecure movement, which features a "True Friend" persona, and dialogues facilitated by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth aim to strengthen community vigilance and support networks for identifying and assisting youths at risk.
• Rehabilitation and reintegration programmes have shown success, with some radicalised youths released from detention or restriction orders lapsing, underscoring the importance of collective vigilance and unity in preventing radicalisation.

Ong Hua Han questioned the Minister for Social and Family Development about the percentage of adults with disabilities living independently without caregivers and the future projection of such individuals in 15 years amidst Singapore's aging population. Masagos Zulkifli B M M responded that most persons with disabilities (PwDs) enrolled in Day Activity Centres or Sheltered Workshops live with family, with about one-third having caregivers over 65. Caregiving situations are dynamic and depend on various factors, and PwDs are advised to plan future arrangements with organizations like SG Enable. The Enabling Masterplan 2030 Taskforce is also exploring new community living models to support independent living for PwDs, with recommendations to be shared later this year.

Jamus Jerome Lim asked about the number of applicants waiting to be admitted to Special Education schools for students with autism spectrum disorder, as well as the waiting times for those with and without intellectual impairment. Chan Chun Sing noted that the Ministry of Education monitors demand and has opened seven new SPED schools since 2022, with an eighth planned for 2026. Currently, about 40 students with intellectual impairment are waiting to start Primary 1, while there are no waiting students with autism but no intellectual impairment. Delays in enrolment were attributed to the need for schools to hire teachers.

Ong Hua Han requested data from the Minister for Education regarding student enrollment in Special Education (SPED) schools for the years 2009, 2014, 2019, and projected 2024, including percentage breakdowns of disabilities among students. Chan Chun Sing reported an increase in SPED enrollment from 5,410 in 2009 to 7,818 in 2023, primarily due to rising cases of autism spectrum disorder. There has been a decrease in reported cases of intellectual, sensory, and multiple disabilities during the same period. The Ministry of Education plans to continue monitoring SPED demand and collaborate with Social Service Agencies to ensure sufficient capacity for various student needs.

Leong Mun Wai raised a question regarding the cancellation of a Science Café session scheduled for June 14, 2024, on the differences between sex and gender. Chan Chun Sing explained that the Science Café series aims to discuss STEM topics relevant to contemporary life. The cancellation was prompted by public feedback expressing concerns about the topic and the composition of the panel. The Science Centre will use this experience to improve its programs while maintaining a focus on promoting science.

Ong Hua Han raised questions about the trends, barriers, and outreach plans for caregivers of persons with disabilities seeking mental well-being assistance. Masagos Zulkifli acknowledged the heightened stress levels faced by caregivers and highlighted feedback from engagements under the Enabling Masterplan 2030 on the need for better awareness and access to resources. Caregivers can access the Enabling Guide and utilize support services from SG Enable and mental health helplines. SG Enable has piloted respite programs and peer support initiatives like CaringSG to help caregivers. The Ministry will continue to assess and improve support for caregivers as part of the ongoing Enabling Masterplan 2030.

• The Government provides holistic support through grants, awards, and capability development schemes like the National Arts Council's Cultural Medallion, Young Artist Award, and Arts Scholarship, which have benefited Malay artists and groups such as Era Dance Theatre and NADI Singapura.
• Malay artists have platforms to showcase their work internationally (e.g., Esplanade's Pesta Raya), nationally (e.g., Chingay Parade), and locally (e.g., Wisma Geylang Serai programming), with opportunities for collaboration and audience engagement.
• Initiatives like the Arts Education Programme, Cultural Performance Exposure Fund, and Bulan Bahasa promote cultural education and broader public engagement, supported by community activities, online resources, and school-based learning.

• From 2019 to 2023, more than 80% of new and existing buildings undergoing works requiring plan submission complied with the Code on Accessibility, with about 160 exemptions granted annually due to technical constraints.
• Exemptions are granted only after a stringent evaluation and typically apply to specific areas or features, often requiring mitigating measures like alternative access provisions for persons with disabilities.
• Buildings that do not comply and are not exempted are denied a Temporary Occupation Permit and/or Certificate of Statutory Completion, preventing their use by occupants.

• Ong Hua Han asked if the Government will review and update all legislation and communications to replace outdated terms like "handicap" in tax relief schemes.
• Masagos Zulkifli affirmed the Government's commitment to using inclusive language and highlighted progress in removing such terms, including in the Income Tax (Amendment) Act 2023.
• The Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore has already removed outdated phrases like "handicapped spouse" and will update its website and official communications accordingly.
• The Ministry of Social and Family Development will continue collaborating with other ministries to update older legislation when opportunities arise.

• Gerald Giam questioned why the SkillsFuture program does not require all training providers to offer reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities to improve course access and career prospects.
• Chan Chun Sing responded that a targeted approach is more practical due to the diverse learning needs of persons with disabilities, with accommodations made where feasible.
• He noted that training providers can use SG Enable’s Capability Development Grant for funding support to implement accommodations.
• Persons with disabilities unable to access certain courses are encouraged to seek assistance directly from SG Enable.

• From 2020 to 2023, the Government disbursed about $65 million annually to MENDAKI for the Tertiary Tuition Fee Subsidy (TTFS) scheme, which supports eligible Malay students at local tertiary institutions.
• Over 9,000 Malay students in local institutes of higher learning received TTFS subsidies each year, accounting for more than two-thirds of Malay students in these institutions, with most receiving subsidies for their full tuition fees.
• Undisbursed TTFS funds are transferred to MENDAKI’s Education Development Fund to support other educational assistance schemes, with over 90,000 beneficiaries benefiting from MENDAKI’s programmes in 2023.
• The Government reaffirms its commitment to ensuring no Malay student is denied tertiary education due to financial difficulties, with MENDAKI and the Ministry of Education offering additional financial assistance and study loans.

• From 2019 to 2024, about 1,200 employers in Progressive Wage Model sectors hired approximately 3,500 employees with disabilities, with support available through the Open Door Programme, grants, and wage subsidies.
• Employers can redesign jobs, adjust wages, and appeal online to SG Enable for exemptions from PWM requirements, with outcomes provided within 15 working days, and no feedback has been received on difficulties with the appeal process.
• The government offers wage subsidies up to 20% under the Enabling Employment Credit, plus additional time-limited support, to encourage hiring of persons with disabilities while ensuring alignment with PWM standards where possible.

• Ong Hua Han asked whether the government would consider increasing the Earned Income Relief for persons with disabilities and allowing tax deductions for assistive technology expenses.
• Chee Hong Tat highlighted existing support measures such as higher Earned Income Relief for persons with disabilities and the Enabling Employment Credit, which provides wage offsets.
• The government also offers job matching and training through SG Enable and subsidies for assistive technology via the Assistive Technology Fund, which covers up to 90% of costs for eligible persons.
• Personal expenses, including for assistive technology, are generally not tax-deductible, but the government provides financial assistance through targeted subsidy schemes.
• The government reaffirmed its commitment to supporting employment for persons with disabilities through inclusive policies and community partnerships.